Loch Bee Causeway

Loch Bee

Loch Bee, or Loch Bi in Gaelic, is the largest loch in South Uist, and is connected to the sea on both sides of the island through the mass of lochans and creeks that make up the landscape. These connections are now managed with tidal valves.

History

The first causeway

The original causeway across Loch Bee was built in the 17th Century as road transport (horse and cart) started to take a hold in the islands. However, it was to be two centuries before the boat was completely superseded as the main form of travel. This first route across the loch consisted of two drystone walls about ten feet apart, filled with shingle and sand.

Twentieth Century improvements

In the 1930's, the causeway was surfaced as part of the new north-south motor road on South Uist, later to be extended across Benbecula when the South Ford Bridge was opened in 1942. By the end of the 1950's, more work had been carried out, this time widening and lifting above the high tide level. This suggests quite a major rebuilding from the original drystone wall structure.

Finally, in 1990, the causeway was widened once more to provide a full S2 link across the loch. The roadway, in common with other causeways in the Western Isles, is now built up well above the water level, with large rocks along the sides (and presumably underneath) to provide a firm base for the road. It has come a long way from those old sand filled walls!

Links

• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar page on Causeways